By now you’ve most likely heard about the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS this weekend. There has been quite a bit of media attention on this shooting because of who Dr. Tiller was and the choices he opted to make with his medical license — that is, he was one of the few practitioners in the United States who would perform late-term abortions. He was shot and killed while attending services at his church this past Sunday.

Most of you have been very respectful regarding this issue. And I thank you for that. I know that the topic of abortion is quite a passionate one, and it certainly takes some self-control to keep one’s own personal opinions out of the mix when such a tragedy has occurred.

But there are some of you who simply see this as a chance to further your agenda. And that just pisses me off.

First of all, there are a few of you — very few — who have the fucking gall to justify the killing of Dr. Tiller as a good thing. That it was simply the act of stopping a murderer who has killed so many and who was likely to kill again and again if not stopped by lethal force. Some of you are saying tha the alleged murderer simply acted as God had instructed, putting to death he who had murdered. Who the hell do you all think you are? What gives the right of anyone to take the life of another? Was the alleged killer’s life in danger at the time that he approached Tiller? No. He shot an unarmed man. It was an assassination. It doesn’t matter what his profession happened to be during the work week. There is no way that anyone should feel that this action was justifiable.

And there are some of you who are quick to condemn the shooting, but you seem to make sure to add “even though he himself has murdered thousands of babies himself.” Nice. Very classy. Newsflash: did you know that Dr. Tiller is a human being? That he, too, is someone’s child? And someone’s parent? And grandparent? Did you know that, after losing family members in a tragic air crash in 1970, he adopted his nephew? Yes — he performed abortions. Which many consider inexcusable. But this shooting also affects many more people than Dr. Tiller.

Real style points go to Bill O’Reilly for sending out his producer to accost Dr. Tiller’s widow a day after the shooting. Balls of steel, Bill. Balls of steel. You must be proud.

And then there are those of you muttering about the irony that this took place at a church — condescendingly adding those implied air-quotes around the word church, as if there was a lack of godliness around an institution that would allow Tiller to worship with the community. As sure as you very well may be that abortion is wrong in the eyes of God, this remains a very hot topic with a variety of viewpoints across the religious spectrum. Yes — it certainly is possible to have a healthy spiritual life while also supporting abortion rights in this country.

And if you’re one who is expressing fear of “retaliation” from the abortion rights camp because of this shooting? Come on. Stop playing the victim here. Let’s face it: this is a setback. Something from which to recover. But to think that there will be some sort of retaliation for the actions against Dr. Tiller simply turns this whole issue into a mockery. That’s not the opposing team’s M.O. Some of you have even said that Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor is a threat because her viewpoints on abortion may become reactive due to this shooting. Get real for a moment: Abortion is currently legal in this country. A so-called, new “activist judge” on the bench can’t and won’t change the status quo. Stop making the shooting about your own cause and think of those directly affected.

Look — as I mentioned before, the overwhelming majority of you are playing it cool. I appreciate that. It’s only a few of you who are spoiling it for everyone else. But it’s those on the fringe who make us all look like total loons. Keep doing what you’re doing — making your voice heard on the issue. Just keep in mind that, as passionate as you are, there are those with other opinions just as passionate as you. And as much as you think that they feel abortion is a throwaway decision, it certainly is a struggle that many women think about.

I think it’s wonderful that we live in a nation where people of all opinions can express themselves. All I ask is that you do it with tact. Do it peacefully. Don’t shove pictures of aborted fetuses in people’s faces; that’s not going to convince them of anything new. Be vocal. But be classy.